Dying Inside (1972) is often considered one of Silverberg’s best works and I can’t wait to read it (I will after my soon to be hellish weekend grading ~60 undergrad history papers). Despite a painfully negative review on Amazon slamming Compton’s The Silent Multitude (1967) as a dull imitation of J. G. Ballard, it is high on my to read list — almost any experimental (allegorical) work exploring a crumbling city intrigues me. Malzberg’s Conversations (1975) was a shot in the dark — it might be the least read of any of his novels — hence, my interest.

Pohl Anderson is almost always worth reading — even his middling short stories are fun.

I look forward to reading it. The Compton is supposed to be his strangest work but definitely a harrowing and literary account of the destruction of a city (through a kaleidoscope of characters). I can’t wait to read both of them!

Beyond the Beyond is a wild ride: it only has six stories but it includes everything from 1-star (Day of Burning) to 5-star (Starfog)…. I just wish they were shorter, with a 44-page average. I’d like to see some 10-page Anderson shorts.